District Central Cluster Rotary Clubs: Bedford, Brunswick, Nordonia Hills, Solon, Strongsville, Twinsburg
 

Philip was born in Lemont, Illinois and grew up in Northford, Connecticut.  He earned his Bachelors Degree from Trenton State College (NJ) in 1987 and his Masters Degree at Case Western in 1998.  He served 22 years in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves retiring in 1999. He retired from his position as an IT Support Manager at CBRE in 2020.  He is married to Jane since 1989 and has 3 grown children.  He enjoys grandchildren, amateur radio, gardening, campervan trips and supporting the local scout troop.

In 2004, Philip was looking for a way to serve the community.  His father-in-law was a Kiwanian in Indiana, which inspired Philip to do the same locally.  He attended a Chamber of Commerce luncheon which was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Twinsburg.  While there, a Rotarian discussed the activities of the Rotary club, which piqued his interest.  Philip joined the Rotary Club of Twinsburg in March 2005.  He has been Membership Chair,  Rotary Foundation Chair, Club President (2010-11, 2016-17, 2022-24), Assistant Governor (2011-13) and currently is serving a second term as Assistant Governor for the District Central Cluster.

He enjoys the position of Assistant Governor, because it give him the opportunity to visit and fellowship with multiple clubs and share events & ideas from the other clubs, as well as interacting with the district level directors and members.

Portage Cluster Rotary Clubs: Aurora, Garrettsville-Hiram, Kent, Mantua, Port-Summit, Ravenna, Northeast Ohio PLUS (Rotaract) 

Elana Koh is a stay-at-home mom homeschooling three children and leading a local co-op in Twinsburg. With a professional background in marketing, event planning and tradeshow logistics, she's skilled at turning ideas into action. She also serves on an early childhood board, where she contributes her passion for education and child development. A founding member of Rotaract Club Northeast Ohio PLUS (July 2023), she served on the district public image committee, part of the 2022 class of leadership, and now co-presides over the club. Elana brings heart, purpose, and talent for building connections wherever she goes.

I said “yes” to being Assistant Governor because it just felt right. My marketing, event-planning, and tradeshow logistics background—plus my knack for organizing —made me realize I could really make a difference district-wide. This role gives me the chance to tap into better resources, share what’s working, and help our clubs get things done more efficiently. I’m excited to team up with fellow volunteers, see clubs collaborate more, and watch service projects thrive across our district. Together, we’ll build stronger clubs, leaders, and communities. 

Geauga/Lake Cluster Rotary Clubs: Burton-Middlefield, Chagrin Valley, Chardon, Geauga West, Mentor, Painesville, 

Why I joined Rotary: Throughout my life and career, the world has been my classroom and my home. My professional journey took me across the globe—over 72 countries, to be exact—where I worked, learned, and absorbed lessons from countless cultures, communities, and landscapes. I’ve lived in the pristine valleys of Switzerland, the heartland of Kansas, the majestic mountains of Colorado, and the vibrant streets of North Carolina, New Mexico, Louisiana, Idaho, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Each place offered its own rhythm and flavor; each left a mark on my curious spirit. 

Yet, as I traversed continents and provinces, what grew most clear to me was the profound disparity and need that exist in so many corners of the world. Human necessity wore many faces: poverty, isolation, hunger, lack of opportunity, and the universal longing for belonging. I witnessed communities thriving and others struggling, and the threads of empathy and connection knit themselves tightly around my heart.

Despite my many adventures, I never truly found a sense of place—a spot to call my own, a community where my roots could grow. The world was rich and diverse, but it didn’t offer me lasting community or the feeling of home. That changed when I discovered Rotary.

Joining Rotary was transformative. It provided me with a unique opportunity: to truly immerse myself in my own community, to learn about its specific needs, and to offer support not just from afar, but side by side with neighbors and friends. Rotary’s mission resonated deeply with my experiences abroad and my desire to give back. Through financial contributions, forging meaningful connections, sharing my experiences, and volunteering my time, I found purpose—not just in global citizenship, but in local stewardship.

Rotary became the anchor I never had, a means to serve with intention and compassion. It offered a platform to channel my international perspective into tangible acts of kindness at home. By supporting local initiatives, mentoring, and rolling up my sleeves alongside others, I discovered that the truest sense of place is built on shared purpose and service.

In essence, I became a Rotarian because I wanted to bridge the gap between my global journey and my local life. I wanted to transform my awareness of human need into meaningful action. Rotary gave me that chance, and in doing so, it gave me the sense of belonging that had eluded me for years.

Professionally, Dr. Albert J. Tien is a seasoned expert in sustainable development, with over 35 years’ international experience across Fortune 500 companies, labs, NGOs, and industry groups. He excels in aligning sustainability with business strategy and driving organizational change. His background includes roles in industrial hygiene, project management, leadership development, and CSR, underpinned by a PhD in Biotechnology and specialized training. He is currently Managing Partner at an international consultancy.

You’re Invited!

The Rotaract Passport Club is excited to host our first independent fundraiser, and we’d love for you to join us!

📅 Date: October 18th

🕓 Time: 3:00 – 6:00 PM

📍 Location: Dietz Falls Florist - 2473 State Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223

This open-house style evening will feature:
✨ A build-your-own pasta bar
✨ Refreshing non-alcoholic beverages
✨ A 50/50 raffle (first ticket included with entry!)
✨ Pumpkin painting — all decorated pumpkins will be donated to a local nursing home to spread some fall cheer

🎟️ Tickets: $20 (includes your pasta bowl, one 50/50 raffle entry, and pumpkin painting activity)

All proceeds will go towards building our club treasury to fund future service projects that make an impact in our community.

👉 RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0OdXCEOQ-mS4QUxikB9HUk6GuV3V9XEzCjQ1e1eCzqk0kiQ/viewform?usp=header

If you have any questions, please contact Kaylee “Lulu” Mahood at mckeekaylee00@gmail.com.

We can’t wait to share pasta, pumpkins, and purpose with you!

With gratitude,
Rotaract Passport Club

Attract. Engage. Grow.

Please join us for our second Club Experience Summit on October 25 at the Cleveland Marriott East!  This Summit will be a little different from last year.  It will again be nearly completely interactive, but the goal is for you to leave with plans for your club's growth based on proven ideas that we will be sharing with one another.  You proved last year that you have fantastic ideas for growth!  Join us on October 25 to develop your plans to Attract, Engage and Grow!

Registration will open at 9 AM with the event starting at 9:30 AM.  We will be done by 12:30 PM.  We are still working on the exact arrangements, but we hope to have fellowship over lunch and perhaps some adult beverages at a nearby establishment following the event.  There is no Ohio State Football game on October 25 - see you there!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

Yours in Service,
IPDG Dale Smith

Program (subject to change)

9 AM - Registration Opens
9:30 AM - Interactive Event Begins
Topics
Knowing and Sharing Your Rotary Experience
Attracting New Members
Engaging New Members
Engaging Existing Members
Planning for Growth
12:30 PM Fellowship - Saucy Brew Works at Pinecrest (TBD)

On September 20th, The Rotary Clubs of Cuyahoga Falls and Stow-Munroe Falls attended the main fundraising event for the 501(c)(3) group called Keys 2 Serenity. This group was founded by Brenda Ryan in 2018 after the loss of her daughter to an overdose, leaving behind her young son.  This non-profit was started to support children who have been impacted by parental addictions Keys 2 Serenity provides approximately 15 events a year for these children. They also provide community giveaways in areas that are impacted by addiction.  They provided goods and services to over 5,000 residents last year alone.  They also support Kinship providers.  Many are grandparents raising their grandchildren due to addiction.

Keys 2 Serenity is one of the first groups that District 6630 are supporting as part of our partnership with them on addiction issues.  Keys 2 Serenity operates on primarily private donations as they get no direct funding and all the staff and the Board of Directors are volunteers.  For more information go to keys2serenity.org

From: RI Corporate Governance <corporate.governance@rotary.org> 

Date: Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM 

Subject: Results of Zone 30 Nominating Committee 

To: <rorotary20252026@gmail.com> 

Corporate Governance 

Dear district governors and club presidents in Zone 30, 

The Nominating Committee for RI Director in Zone 30 certified that it elected Mike Kelly, a  member of the Rotary Club of Mason-Deerfield, Ohio, as RI director in 2027-29 in accordance  with RI Bylaws section 11.020. Rotarian Kelly has stated that he is willing and able to serve as  director if confirmed. 

RI President Francesco Arezzo will declare Rotarian Kelly as director-nominee from your zone  on 1 December 2025 unless another qualified Rotarian has been duly proposed as a  challenging candidate by 1 December. 

The following procedures must be followed to propose a challenge to the Nominating  Committee’s selection:

1. Any club in the zone, or section, may propose a challenging candidate by a resolution of  the club adopted at a regular meeting, provided that the challenger was among the  candidates previously considered by the Nominating Committee. 

2. The resolution must include a written statement from the challenging candidate that  they are willing and able to serve if elected.

3. The governor, either at the district conference or through a club ballot, asks each club in  the district if it concurs with the challenge resolution. If a majority of clubs in the district  concur, the governor will forward the resolution to the general secretary by no later than  1 December. 

4. The resolution must be concurred to by a majority of clubs in the district and one other  district in the same zone or zone section from which the director is to be nominated.  District governors from both districts must submit the resolution to the general  secretary no later than 1 December for the challenge to be valid. 

If a valid challenge is received, the Secretariat will prepare and distribute an electronic ballot  by 31 December to all active clubs in the zone or section. The ballot will list the choice of your  zone’s Nominating Committee and any valid challenging candidates. 

Any candidate who undertakes, or on whose behalf is undertaken, unauthorized and improper  activities to further their candidacy in violation of RI policy may be disqualified by the RI Board. 

Please note RI Bylaws section 13.010., which in part states: 

Rotarians shall not campaign, canvass, or electioneer for elective position in RI, or allow such  activity, for either themselves or others. Unless expressly authorized by the board, this  prohibition includes any distribution or circulation by themselves or others of brochures,  literature, letters, materials, electronic media, or other communications to any clubs or members of clubs. 

Thank you in advance for your adherence to these procedures. Please do not hesitate to  contact the Corporate Governance staff at corporate.governance@rotary.org with any questions. 

Sincerely, 

John Hewko

Great time at the Stow-Munroe Falls Rotary Reverse Raffle and Silent Auction!  This club is amazing and does amazing things! 

If your club needs to know how to run a successful Reverse Raffle - just contact the Stow-Munroe Falls Club.  What a great event. 

The room was filled to the brim with people, the silent auction items were spectacular, food was delicious, bingo was a blast, the wine pull was a delight  - what more can we say…it was FUN FUN FUN!!

After nearly one year Burton-Middlefield Rotary (BMR) wrapped up a major project with the Family Pride (FP) organization in Chardon.   FP is a community based behavioral health service provider that provides services to individuals and families across Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties.  BMR began the project in June of 2024 under their then club president Larry Fox who chose to work with FP because of his desire to do something in the mental health field.  Shortly after the project was started, FP had the opportunity to move from their previous location to much better and efficient facilities on 5^th. Ave. in Chardon.  

There were some construction obstacles that delayed the project but the new facilities proved to be worth the wait and the project was completed in June of this year. Rotary, through its matching grant program where money is accessed by Rotary clubs from the Rotary Foundation to match local club funds, was able to provide $5000 to FP to put towards their work. Since these grants require that Rotarians participate in this work, BMR spent an evening at the FP facility putting some of their “care” packages together to be used at child and elderly interventions.  Rotarians had a great time interacting with the FP staff on this project and shared a great pizza meal  with them when done.  The evening capped off with a talk by Executive Director Angi Daugherty about all the services they provide that are easily accessible to those in need.  Angi and her staff have continued to build FP over 20 years and have made it a major supplier of services throughout the tri-county area.  At the end of September, past club president Larry Fox met with Angie and presented her with the check for $5000 to wrap up the project.

Bob Johnson, PDG

Secretary, Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield

Sunday, Oct. 12^th. was a gorgeous fall day in Northeast Ohio as the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield (BMR) hosted their 6^th. annual Jeep Invasion.  The event is held yearly at the Mayfield Rd. drive-in theater and was attended this year by over 100 Jeep Wranglers of all sizes, shapes and levels of decoration.  This is a fun event where Jeep owners congregate to look over each others vehicles and just talk “Jeep”.  Entrants pay a fee to enter for a two hour get together followed by a two hour tour of Geauga County.  When the tour started 105 Jeeps followed Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand through central Geauga County.  Special trips were made on a short portion of the Maple Highlands Trail and over one of the beautiful covered bridges.  Back on regular roads they went to the Best Sand Production pit off Rt. 44 south of Chardon.  This was truly a rare opportunity to experience a real local phenomenon that most of us have driven past hundreds of times but never got a close look at the actual pit.  Best Sand employees were on hand to show off their monstrous mining machines and wave to the Jeepers.  Each Jeep participant remarked that it was the highlight of the tour.  A huge thank you to the Best Sand owners for this opportunity.  Also a big thank you to the Geauga Parks for the use of the small portion of the Maple Highlands Trail and our apologies to any hikers and bikers that may have been inconvenienced for a few minutes.

Event chair Rotarian Andrew Pleso from Junction Auto and his small staff and vice chair County Commissioner Jim Dvorak put this entire event together and made it a complete success.  Profits from the show go to help Geauga County Veterans with any needs they may have. This year over $12,000 was raised. Thanks to major sponsor Junction Auto Family and the dozens of other sponsors that contribute for the good of Geauga County Veterans.  The event continues to grow in popularity each year and BMR is proud to be a generous helper to Geauga veterans.  A big thanks to Rotary District Governor Bob Oborn and his wife Annette for attending and also for the help of Past District Governor Dale Smith who joined the BMR team and many volunteers.  We also want to thank VFW post 459 for presenting the color guard ceremony to begin the event.  It was a pleasure to take part in an all American  non-political fun day.  We hope the jeepers enjoyed it and will join us next year at the 7^th. Jeep Invasion.

Robert Johnson, PDG

Secretary, BMR

REID MILLER CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SERVICE ABOVE SELF WITH ROTARY

Gathered for a 50 Year Anniversary breakfast with his family and friends from the Medina Sunrise Rotary Club, the Rev. Dr. C. Reid Miller reminisced about his adventures with Rotary that spanned 50 years and seven continents. Reid, who received the Cleveland Clinic Community Service Award in 2018, has served our nation with pride and distinction for 31 years as a US Military Chaplain in the US Army and then in the Air Force, Lt. Colonel. Following his retirement, Reid pastored his local church and devoted himself to teaching elementary school students and serving his community with enthusiasm and energy.

The Rotary motto, “Service Above Self,” comes naturally to the Rev. Dr. C. Reid Miller, who celebrated 50 years of perfect attendance in Rotary International, one of the oldest and largest global service organizations. Today, we honor his commitment to service and applaud his leadership.

SANYUKA CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES CHOIR PERFORMS FOR MEDINA SUNRISE ROTARY

Love - Influence - Rejoice

"'SANYUKA' is a Ganda word meaning 'REJOICE'!" exclaimed Allan Kizito, Executive Director of Sanyuka Children's Ministries in Uganda.  "My journey, from having been orphaned at 8-years old in Uganda, taken in by Christian missionaries through high school, graduating from Makerere University, founding Real Technologies Group, getting married and having our first child, winning a U.S. Department of State Green Card lottery, and being offered a job in Medina, Ohio, was guided not by not by luck or through my own energy but by the loving hand of God."

Kizito, now a software engineer with Ohio-based OEConnection, founded Sanyuyka Children's Ministries in Uganda in 2008, and continues his overseas mission as a minister of the Gospel and pastor, offering Christ-centered child development programs that were initiated as a response to the ever increasing number of street, orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda.  Sanyuka is a Family!  It currently brings education, health care, food, clothing, a nurturing home-setting, mentoring, purpose and spiritual discipleship to 55 children who were once orphans, with many more on the waiting list.  

"We are grateful to Medina Sunrise Rotary for the generous donation and to our blessed partnership with Pride One Construction of Medina," said Allan. "Please join us in building a sustainable future for these children. Our 2025 Sanyuka Vision is to promote our children's ministries tour, purchase land for a school and a development center for teaching job trade skills, with homes, a training farm, and a small business incubator. Also, we are excited about bringing the Sanyuka Children's Ministries Choir to Ohio in 2025 to share our stories, mission, and our love of God."

Kizito and the vivacious Sanyuka choir concluded their beautiful music and dance presentation with a heartfelt thanks to all Medina Sunrise Rotarians, whose mission is "making a difference in the lives of children in our community and beyond through our time, talents and treasures," and for joining with Sanyuka Family Children's Ministries in Uganda.  "Together, we can become the instrument in changing a life, a generation, a country, and Africa." 

For more information about getting involved with Sanyuka Children's Ministries, supporting the 2025 Children's Choir Ohio Tour, or sponsoring a young life, please contact:  Allan Kizito at 312-515-7370 (mobile), or https://www.sanyukachildren.org 

PHOTO: Medina Sunrise Rotary Club & Sanyuka Ministries Children's Choir

RSVP - Click here or scan the QR Code

The Sherwin-Williams Company has been named the recipient of the inaugural Community Impact Award from the Rotary Club of Cleveland. The award recognizes a company, organization or person that has made a significant impact on the city of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

Sherwin-Williams has maintained a strong presence in Northeast Ohio since 1866 and is close to completing construction of its new headquarters building just west of Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The company had been located in the nearby Landmark Office Towers for nearly 100 years, but was faced with the challenge of expanding and modernizing in order to serve its customers and support its employees. Despite considering a number of communities across the country, Sherwin-Williams made the decision to remain in  Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. 

The headquarters campus, totaling one million square feet, consists of three buildings: a two-story pavilion acting as the front porch to Public Square, a 36-floor office tower and an attached multi-level parking garage.  Sherwin-Williams also built the Morikis Global Technology Center in Brecksville which is responsible for product development, coatings research, color technology and process engineering. The 600,000 square-foot facility will help create and retain employment opportunities for chemists, engineers and technicians.

Representatives of Sherwin-Williams will accept the Community Impact Award from Rotary Club of Cleveland on Thursday, November 13th during a luncheon presentation at 12:00 noon in the Bridgeview Room at Windows on the River, 2000 Sycamore Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113. Visit rotaryclubofcleveland.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

All are invited to join the event. Tickets are $25 per person and include food and beverages. RSVP and register with Rotary Club of Cleveland via email at rotarycle@gmail.com or at: https://rotaryclubofcleveland.com/events/community-impact-award/.

Rotary Club of Cleveland was founded in 1910, the 18^th Rotary Club to be chartered. It is part of a global network of 1.2 million community leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.  Locally, Rotary Club of Cleveland serves the Cleveland community with projects directly benefitting local organizations such as: 
   • W. 25^th Street Rapid Site – Red Line Green Way greenspace beautification and walking path
   • Thesmacher High School Recognition Day – recognizing CMSD high achievers
   • CMSD High School Student mentoring
   • St. Augustine Community Pantry
   • Greater Cleveland Chapter of American Red Cross
   • Greater Cleveland Food Bank, and many more

For more information, visit: RotaryClubofCleveland.com